Latest Gear Live Videos

To everyone in the Eastern US affected by Frankenstorm Sandy, my heart goes out to you. Stay safe and I hope normalcy returns as soon as possible. (And don’t forget to vote!)

Show business knew how to take away the game ball from Sandy coverage with the announcement that George Lucas was selling Lucasfilm to Disney for $4 billion (with a ‘b’). That’s just mind-boggling.

And with that news came the news that new Star Wars films will be forthcoming with Lucas not involved in their production. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, Lucas announced his charitable intentions with the $4 billion. What a week. Marvel and DC will have to stage a double-secret-reboot just to get a little press.

Advertisement

First off, smart thoughts on the state of various elements of the comics industry - retail, Marvel, 24 Hour Comics Day - from Tom Spurgeon at The Comics Reporter.

Bleeding Cool has the story announcing Rob Liefeld’s latest retirement from comics. And then moments later says he’s back.

Here’s a nice review of Mark McKenna’s new indy comic, Combat Jacks. “While McKenna might be known as a great inker, he is certainly a surprisingly good writer too. The story and dialogue of Combat Jacks is quite enjoyable, making me wish there were more comics like this sadly rare done-in-one sci-fi/horror story.”

Noted sci-fi author John Scalzi (The Android’s Dream; Agent To The Stars) doubles as Creative Consultant for the new Stargate: Universe TV series (which you can check out on Hulu if you’ve missed some eps). More importantly, he also writes a regular column for the AMC website (that’s American Movie Classics; not the defunct auto-maker responsible for the Gremlin). Last week, he held a sci-fi writing contest for his audience—you could pick one of 10 different scenarios he suggested and write a short post relating to your choice.

You could choose from movie pitches, disciplinary reports, speeches, monologues, movie scenes, and lots more involving sci-fi icons like Will Smith, E.T., Jar-Jar Binks, Uwe Boll and many others. I chose: “Write a brief monologue from the point of view of the creature who burst out of the chest of John Hurt in Alien.”

Oh, look! Another ET has landed. This Happy Alien Mini-Speaker can accompany your iPod, MP3, or MP4 player. With a USB rechargeable Li-ion battery, you can extend or retract its body to change the volume. At a size of 70 x 55 x 54mm and a weight of 60g, the speaker also features a 3.5mm stereo audio connector and comes in orange or blue with an MSRP of $11.90.

As you may recall, we introduced you to the Alien Abduction Lamp last year, a prototype designed by Lasse Klein complete with a pulsating beam. Now it turns out that because of the hype, this is one idea that has reached fruition. Although no date has been set for its sale and there is no final word on whether it will be made in plastic or metal and glass, we are pleased that it will be coming to market. New to the lamp will be human and bovine abductees, for it is well known that aliens love people and cows. We’ll keep you posted on when the UFO becomes available.